How To Take Care Of Your Vagina After Delivery

Introduction

A woman's vagina goes through a lot of trauma while giving birth. Following delivery, a woman experiences discomfort and pain in the vaginal area. Even though the newborn is a priority after giving birth, postpartum care must not be overlooked. From discharge to soreness, there is a lot of care that must be given to the vagina after delivery.

Every woman is different and, therefore, her experience during labor, delivery and postpartum health are also different. But it is important to know what to expect and what should be done to care for the vagina after giving birth.

What Vaginal Changes Can A Person Expect After Giving Birth?

It is only natural for a woman to wonder how the delivery will affect her vagina after giving birth. Will it be necessary to perform an episiotomy? How much time will it take for the vagina to heal after delivery? Just like the experience of pregnancy and giving birth is different for every woman, the postpartum experience differs as well. Some of the common experiences women have after giving birth include:

• Vaginal dryness

• Soreness of the vagina and perineum

• Extremely heavy discharge

• Formation of scar tissue in the vagina

• Heavier or lighter period flow

• Widening of the vagina after pregnancy

• Urinary incontinence while laughing, jumping or coughing

• Pain and other changes during sexual intercourse

• Change in the color of the vulva

Tips To Take Care Of Your Vagina After Delivery

A woman's vagina will likely be sore after giving birth, and it should be remembered that the pain will not instantly disappear after delivery. Pain and soreness in the vaginal area can remain for weeks after childbirth. For those wondering about how to take care of your vagina after giving birth, here are some useful tips:

• Sitz Bath

A sitz bath is a tub of warm water that a person can soak their lower body in to relieve pain caused by swelling or tears. A sitz bath will boost blood flow and reduce inflammation. It will also help tissues heal and repair faster. The hospital may provide people with sitz bath equipment along with other postpartum supplies.

• Soothing Sprays

Several over-the-counter Benzocaine or Lidocaine sprays are available in the market that can help relieve the pain caused due to hemorrhoids and tearing. People can use these sprays on the skin after changing a pad or using the bathroom.

• Ice Packs

An ice pack wrapped in a soft washcloth and placed on the vaginal area for a minimum of 10-15 minutes every hour can alleviate the pain. The hospital may provide a few disposable ice packs upon request. Ice packs are also available at the drugstore.

• Witch Hazel Pads

Witch hazel has chemicals called tannins that go a long way toward fighting bacteria and reducing swelling. This, in turn, reduces the pain and ensures that there is no infection. Witch hazel also has hemostatic properties that can stop minor bleeding. Soak a medicated cotton pad with witch hazel and dab it over the sensitive spots as a soothing treatment.

• Keep It Dry

After urination or using a sitz bath, fan the vaginal area dry while keeping the legs spread apart. A hairdryer can also be used, on the cool setting. The hairdryer should be kept 6-8 inches away from the vagina for a maximum of 3 minutes. Though it won’t ease the pain completely it will help prevent further inflammation due to the use of toilet paper. It will also keep vaginal yeast infections at bay.

• OTC Pain Relievers

A variety of over-the-counter pain relievers are available these days that will help relieve pain in the vagina after giving birth. Ibuprofen works as an effective anti-inflammatory agent that will soothe the pain and also help with cramping, post-delivery bleeding and perineal pain. While it is usually safe to take Ibuprofen while nursing, it is strongly recommended to consult a doctor and get a medical prescription before taking any medication.

Conclusion

The most important question on the minds of many women before and after delivery is if their vagina will return to the state it was in before pregnancy and childbirth. A woman's vagina is elastic enough to expand and also capable of retracting. Even though there is a lot of pain associated with childbirth, the vagina can handle the delivery of a child. Furthermore, any discomfort can be treated with medication prescribed by a doctor, along with home remedies to soothe and comfort the vagina after giving birth. By properly caring for the vagina after delivery, the vaginal area can heal and women can focus on spending time with their newborn baby.